Opera Crypto Browser Project with focus on cryptocurrencies, blockchain, and Web 3.0 is here

Opera web browser has a new version that’s geared towards Web 3.0. The “Crypto Browser Project” relies heavily on blockchain technology and comes with a built-in, native cryptocurrency wallet. Users can also deploy crypto-wallets of their own choice within the browser.

Opera might not be in the same league as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Mozilla Firefox, but it has kick-started its journey towards the next phase of the internet with the Crypto Browser Project. The new browser is available in a beta version and is limited to a few operating systems but Opera has laid out the new browser’s roadmap too.

While releasing the cryptocurrency-themed web browser, Opera published a detailed blog post on its official website offering its reasoning. As cryptocurrency is right at the heart of the new web browser, it obviously contains a hot wallet. However, Opera is offering a native, non-custodial crypto wallet that can be used to manage cryptocurrencies as well. What this means is that users can either start using the built-in crypto wallet or add and select another such as Metamask, Coinbase, or Binance wallet. The browser offers a simple-to-use wallet selector tool to get started.

The Opera Crypto Browser Project allows buying crypto tokens “via a fiat to crypto on-ramp.” The wallet will also allow users to swap cryptocurrencies, send and receive crypto to and from others, and check wallet balance as well as associated “gas fees”. While managing the long chain of characters that comprise token information, the browser will ensure security and privacy as it has "secure copy-paste". What this means is that the browser has a monitoring facility to ensure “no other apps have modified your wallet address or sensitive data.”

Interestingly, Opera is also offering a "Crypto Corner”, wherein the browser will show information on crypto prices, news pieces, as well as an NFT gallery. A Crypto Pinboard will offer tutorials on how to optimally use the Crypto Browser Project.

Web3 or Web 3.0 is the proposed next step for Web 2.0, which mostly evolved and revolved around user-generated content. Web 3.0 is basically a "new" type of internet that’s based on blockchain technology and is intentionally decentralized for enhanced security and user privacy. It is important to note that this is different from the Web 3.0 proposed by Sir Tim Berners-Lee, since that pushed the idea of a "Semantic Web". Opera has expressed interest in this area before. Last month, it announced an integration with Polygon to boost Web3 adoption.